As we go through life, there are times like this that occasionally come around.
At some point, we encounter moments where we say things like ‘There was nothing I could do back then’ or ‘That was the best option at the time.’
For Noah, right now was exactly one of those moments.
“…Uncle.”
He moved his hand as cautiously as if touching a fierce stray cat. It was funny; he knew full well that the other wouldn’t particularly object.
In fact, it was far easier than petting a stray cat. There was no need for claws or teeth here.
Yet, Noah’s heart was pounding harder than ever.
He tried to calm himself down.
This was something unavoidable, and he needed to give his all to what must be done now.
With that in mind, Noah smiled and threw out a joke.
“I’ll eat well~”
Hoping the sound of his racing heartbeat would be drowned out by this.
Noah closed his eyes. He had never been so glad to see darkness. If he couldn’t see the other’s face, maybe he could steady his heart.
However, it was a miscalculation.
Perhaps because their faces were pressed so closely together, every small breath tickled his ears. The sounds entering through his ears were teasing his heart.
This kind of tickling drives people wild.
And the person who could soothe this ticklish feeling was right in front of him.
“…Umm.”
Noah gently brought his lips to the other’s.
At that moment, it felt like thunder struck inside his head.
“…Wha…!?”
“Noah? Are you alright?”
“Da-da-da-d*mn straight!”
Noah’s face was red as he sprang back.
The moistness of the moment when mucous membranes touched was awkward and strange.
The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. It was just a matter of pressing lips together, so why was his heart beating so hard?
‘…Calm down. It’s just a kiss.’
Considering how much they had already talked about dating and such, why was he flustered by just a kiss? If he kept acting this way, he’d continue being treated like a kid forever.
How long did he plan to keep being treated this way?
He would wait until he grew up. He would seriously consider starting a relationship. One might even call it a decent achievement so far.
But he couldn’t let his guard down yet. That was only thinking positively. If later on, he said it wouldn’t work out, it would all be for nothing.
It was also possible that it was just an excuse to move the situation along.
“I’ll do it properly again.”
“Alright, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“…Stop treating me like a kid. I’m not a little kid anymore.”
“…Sorry.”
Noah steeled his resolve.
‘I will definitely succeed.’
Once again, he bent forward, bringing his face closer. Slowly closing his eyes, he kissed once more, and strangely, he felt his eyes welling up.
He couldn’t cry here.
That would be too embarrassing.
‘Just transfer the essence quickly and get it over with…’
His tongue wasn’t moving well due to the tension.
Noah tried to roll the essence he had carefully stored in his mouth towards the other’s mouth.
Slosh, slosh.
Placing the essence on the floor of his mouth, he slowly guided it into the other’s mouth.
Though Shin Hyun looked quite startled, Noah, with his eyes closed and focused, didn’t notice.
When it finally reached completely inside the other’s mouth, Noah slowly released the essence.
The bitter taste that had filled his mouth disappeared, replaced by a slightly sweet sensation.
The first kiss was quite bitter and shaky but was nonetheless sweet and made him happy. As Noah savored this satisfaction, he reluctantly tried to rise upon hearing the “Mm…uhn…” sound.
Yeah.
He had tried to rise.
Until something swept across his tongue.
Swoosh. Choochuk.
He felt something brushing against his tongue.
It was Uncle’s tongue. Shin Hyun still wore a bewildered expression, clearly thinking something had gone terribly wrong.
Noah, whose tongue had been licked,
Suddenly remembered something he had said in his dazed state.
This world was supposedly like a story made from some kind of game.
Then,
‘Where am I in this story?’
Had he passed the halfway mark? Or was he getting close to the ending? Would the conclusion of this story be a happy ending or a bad one?
While he couldn’t know anything for sure, he was certain about what was going to happen next.
“Puhaha…”
“Haa…uhn… Noah, it’s enough now—”
“I don’t know…”
Grrk.
Noah grabbed Shin Hyun’s arms.
“It’s all your fault, Uncle. Always teasing me like this. Then telling me to hold back after doing so.”
“What? Noah? Are you upset about what just happened? That was a mistake! Let go of my arms quickly!”
Ah, everything had gone wrong because of Uncle. So Uncle had to take responsibility.
“Noah? Will you let go? There’s something important I want to discuss.”
“Do you really want to talk about that, Uncle?”
“Yeah. It’s quite important. I want to tell you quickly.”
Upon seeing this, Noah nodded. Thinking it was fortunate, Shin Hyun tried to stand up.
And that was the moment.
Plop.
“Eh…? No…Noah?”
“Somehow, I heard there’s a saying in the world…”
Plop.
“What saying…?”
“Hehe, do you want to know?”
Plop Plop.
“…”
“Then I’ll tell you.”
“No, I’m fine without—”
Shin Hyun cut off his words mid-sentence. More accurately, he was cut off.
Because Noah simultaneously pushed him down and covered his mouth with her lips.
Sitting on Shin Hyun’s stomach with her own behind, Noah’s lips trembled.
“That’s what they say.”
Noah thought. This moment would likely become the highlight of her life.
“Only the strong have the choice.”
Plop.
+++++
Shin Hyun was currently flustered.
First, by the extremely bitter taste of the essence that made him snap back to reality.
Second, by Noah’s lips sticking to him, making his mind fuzzy.
Noah was currently kissing him passionately, engaging in a fierce battle with her tongue.
One side attacked while the other dodged and defended.
Of course, Noah was clearly the attacker.
“Puhaha! Noah, if you stop now, we can pretend it never happened!”
“No! How could I endure day after day with feelings like these!”
“Ahh! Noah!!”
“Don’t open your mouth so wide, or I might bite your tongue!”
Shin Hyun couldn’t resist the power of an Iris. Thus, he obediently became Noah’s stuffed toy. Or rather,
“Brother…don’t leave anymore. Stay with me. I’ve already unpacked all my luggage.”
“That…that’s good but…”
“I’ve canceled my dormitory contract, so from now on, I’ll live in Brother’s house. Let’s live together? Okay?”
“No, hey, wait a minute! Even if that’s true, it’s too much for a minor who isn’t even an adult yet—”
“Who has the choice, right? Brother?”
Noah left him no choice but to become her stuffed toy.
‘Someone…please help me!’
At this rate, he really felt like he’d be devoured by Noah.
He sent out desperate pleas with his eyes to the other magical girls watching intently.
But they only observed avidly or blushed, showing no intention of helping.
“Woah…Ah? Sister, why are you covering my eyes?”
“Yul shouldn’t see stuff like that yet…”
“Bad kid…ascending to adulthood all alone…”
I can’t believe this. Seriously.
‘I guess I don’t know either…’
Shin Hyun gave up and accepted Noah’s assault.
How much time had passed? When Noah finally parted her lips, he was worried they might be swollen.
“Puhaha…”
“…Are you satisfied?”
A silvery thread stretched between them.
It sparkled briefly under the light before breaking.
Noah, completely melted, collapsed onto Shin Hyun.
Noah panted heavily, muttering something.
“Haa…Haa…Brother…Brother…it’s good…Haa…mine…no matter what, I’ll tie you to me…Haa…we’ll stay together…”
Shin Hyun’s body trembled.
“Tying someone is illegal, Noah!”
“Uhhi…uheeheehee…yeah…um…hot!”
At some point during her rambling, she suddenly woke up with a start. Her face was red.
“Ahahaha…Uncle…! So, uh, that, just now, that was…”
“Th…that just now, was it a favor?”
“Ah…ahahaHAHAHA!! Yeah, it was a favor! I mean, yeah, it’s my first time giving a favor, so it took a bit longer!”
Of course, Shin Hyun understood the meaning of that “ahahaHAHAHA!!”. That was Noah’s laugh when she was embarrassed.
She seemed to have returned to her senses.
‘Noah holds back and then explodes all at once, huh.’
She truly was a terrifying child.
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, thanks to you, the curse was successfully lifted, so it’s fine.”
“Ah! Are you okay now?”
“Yeah. My body feels incredibly light. It feels like I’ve barely survived.”
Noah happily hugged him.
After such a long kiss followed by a hug—it felt like the order was reversed, but it didn’t matter.
“So? What did you want to say?”
That’s right. In the midst of losing focus, he had forgotten.
“Noah, do you have a younger sister?”
“Younger sister?”
“Yeah. For example, a younger sister who looks exactly like you?”
“Hmm…younger sister…younger sister…”
“One who looks like you.”
“The one who looks exactly like me…is it twins?”
“That could be possible. Not entirely sure though.”
Ah, Noah clapped her hands.
“I do want to have a twin daughter who looks like me, but you’ll have to help with that, Brother.”
“Naoh!”
“Hehe, just kidding~ I don’t have a younger sister. I’m an only child.”
It was a joke. She smiled cheerfully at Shin Hyun.
Despite the bright smile, recalling what had just happened, it wasn’t a completely lighthearted joke.
Somehow, Shin Hyun felt uneasy about the future.
“Anyway, Noah, do you want to go to that old rice cake soup place we visited before? Uncle will explain everything there.”
—
